Yes, You Can Still Travel to Cuba

On Wednesday, the Trump administration laid out its Cuba policy and the headlines are confusing as hell. Can we (Americans) still book a trip to the island? How do we do it? And is it safe?

We’re here to tell you: Relax. You can still go to Cuba, and it’s not that tricky. We checked out the new policy and talked to Chad Olin, CEO of Cuba Candela, a travel outfitter that champions Cuban entrepreneurs, to sift through the noise. Here’s what you need to know.

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The New Policy Alters Your Approach

In making good on its promise to ratchet up Cuba travel restrictions and put the squeeze on the Cuban economy, the new policy cracks down on individual “people-to-people” trips, the category that spurred the boom over the past two years. Going forward, Americans electing people-to-people must book their travel through companies approved by the government (of which there are many!).

According to Olin, it’s important to remember that “going with a group doesn’t necessarily mean it's a group tour. It could be a group of one or two or 200. The key is going with a company for the people-to-people license.”

Individual travel will still be allowed under 12 categories including humanitarian and religious travel, journalistic activity, family visits, professional research, and participation in public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions. Those traveling in one of those categories should stick to an itinerary in line with their category and keep records of what they did during their visit for five years as the policy requires.

You Should Review the Cuba Restricted List

The administration also released a list of 180 Cuban entities that are now off limits for Americans. It's worth noting that some listings make no sense. As the New York Times reported: “Among the hotels left off the banned list was Marriott International’s Four Points Havana Hotel, owned by the Cuban government, while a competitor operated by a foreign rival, the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana, is on the banned list.” The Kempinski Hotel is on nearly every list of places to go in Havana for a Cuba Libre. So can you walk in, have a drink, and engage in a “direct financial transaction?” Probably best not to.

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If You Already Booked, You’re Good to go

Existing travel plans will not be restricted.

There Are Still Plenty of Places to Stay

The Cuba Restricted List eliminates dozens of hotels in Central Havana, but there are hundreds of casa particulares (private houses, apartments, and rooms) still listed on Airbnb as well as many hotels run by civilians, such as the Gran Caribe. Americans will have a harder time finding hotels to stay in outside Havana.

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No One Will Be Keeping Tabs on You in Cuba

But you should know that the Trump Administration is directing the Treasury Department to enforce this policy, which implies that there will be routine audits into travelers’ activities in Cuba. “You should have a full-time schedule of activities documented,” said Olin.

You Can Still Take a Cruise

Yep, that’s it.

Let’s Talk About the State Department’s Travel Warning

The new policy comes on the heels of the American government investigating the mysterious attacks on US diplomats in Havana that allegedly left some with minor brain injuries. (Note: these incidents were isolated to two hotels in Havana.) The U.S. maintains that these new restrictions have nothing to do with the attacks. Take from that what you will.

The State Department issued a travel warning as a result. This caused a stir among travel organizers questioning the reports and citing how many travelers were misconstruing the warning to mean they were barred from getting a visa.

You don’t need to heed the travel warning. On safety in-country, Olin said, “Cuba is one of the safest countries in the world, statistically. Crimes against tourists are unheard of in the travel industry. And millions of travelers have visited Cuba with no health or safety incidents.”

Go School Your Friends on How the New Policy Makes no Sense

The new policy is couched in a way that would lead you to believe it’s helping the Cuban people. But bear in mind that an overwhelming majority of Americans and Cubans support loosening restrictions and allowing individual travel. “So who’s this policy for? The idea of making changes for the benefit of either people is simply not true,” said Olin. It’s a counterproductive policy that will, unfortunately, keep Americans out of Cuba simply due to misinformation.

So, yes, you can still go to Cuba. And in all likelihood, you'll have a f*ckin' awesome trip.

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